Descent of the Demon Master-Chapter 1066. Revising (1)

Kang Jin-Ho still looked unconcerned, however. “I will handle his share of work.”

“...But you’re already dealing with so much work yourself.”

“It’ll be fine.”

“But, but...”

Kang Jin-Ho shrugged while glancing at Wiggins. “Listen.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“There are some things in this world only I can do, and there are some things that I simply must do. This case is the latter.”

“...Understood.” Wiggins quickly decided to stop arguing.

Kang Jin-Ho being this adamant could only mean any further attempt at persuasion would fall on deaf ears.

“Besides,” Kang Jin-Ho smirked. “You will help me if I need something, right? Wiggins?”

“...”

“Why are you not saying anything?”

“...Of course, my lord. You can count on me.”

This was why Wiggins was so against this arrangement, though!

Wiggins let out a pained groan before shooting a sharp glare at Lee Hyeon-Su's face. However, his disciple grinned right back, obviously still overjoyed by the fact that he was finally liberated from all the soul-killing office work!

‘...Fine! We’ll have a chat after you come back!’

Wiggins swore vengeance inwardly, then asked Kang Jin-Ho again. “Then, when should Mister Lee start the program?”

Kang Jin-Ho rubbed his chin. “Sooner the better, I think. If it’s doable, I was thinking of sending him from... Mm, how about this week?”

“...Isn’t that too soon?”

“No. As I said, the sooner the better.”

“B-but... Mister Lee, don't you have various tasks to finish and duties to hand over first?” Wiggins quickly changed his target after confirming once more that Kang Jin-Ho wasn't going to listen to him.

Unfortunately for Wiggins, though... His new target just so happened to be a tiger cub he had been rearing with great care.

“Yes, I do have some stuff left, but I can't ignore the Assembly Master's order, now can I? I'll wrap up the work as soon as possible and get ready to depart, sir! Although the idea of vacating the Assembly when it’s at its busiest is weighing heavily on my mind, I never enjoyed a ton of free time, to begin with, anyway.”

When translated for a layman, Lee Hyeon-Su was saying that he'd leave even if it killed him!

‘You... You ungrateful brat!’

Unable to give up like this, Wiggins resorted to clinging to Kang Jin-Ho's pants next. Figuratively, of course.

“My lord? Do we really need to send this brat to a training program like this?”

Kang Jin-Ho casually shrugged. “Chief Lee needs to know what the trainees are learning over there. The program's contents are no longer the same as what a regular new employee would have learned, so I need someone to offer their feedback. And Chief Lee is the only one who can do that and help us revise the program.”

“Urgh...” Wiggins groaned and backed off. The “logic” was too watertight this time!

Lee Hyeon-Su glanced at Wiggins and smirked triumphantly.

‘I’ll leave the things in your capable hands, master!’

‘Bloody hell...!’

Wiggins’ complexion grew darker.

Kang Jin-Ho observed the subtle exchange of knowing gazes between the two men and smirked softly.

‘Hah. Having fun, are you?’

Lee Hyeon-Su must have been under the impression that he was going on a vacation. Unfortunately for him, though, a bloodthirsty devil was preparing a hell-on-Earth just for him right now.

‘Hmm... Should I add more fuel to the fire?’

It was always so much fun watching someone else’s house burn down, no?

“Chief Lee. Don’t forget that...” Kang Jin-Ho weightily raised his voice.

“Yes, sir?” Lee Hyeon-Su momentarily stiffened.

“You might be the Martial Assembly's top administrative officer, but you're no longer the head of a department once you enter Jaegyeong's classroom. Do not forget that. Fulfill your duties to the best of your abilities, and also! You must absolutely obey the instructions given. Understand?”

“Eii~, sir! You know I’m not a child. Of course I’ll remember that.”

Would he really, after experiencing what might be in store for him over there? Kang Jin-Ho did his absolute best to keep a straight face while nodding away. They would find out once Lee Hyeon-Su went there, now wouldn't they!

Kang Jin-Ho glanced at Lee Hyeon-Ju next. “Then, anything from the accounting...?”

She briefly shook her head. “I’ll report the matters separately to you, sir.”

“Mm...” Kang Jin-Ho nodded back at her.

Even he had to agree that issues related to the Assembly's funds shouldn't be discussed in front of everyone here. Besides, Lee Hyeon-Ju would've made her report if a matter she was in charge of required everyone’s attention, anyway. Respecting her decision was the right move this time.

“Is that everything, then?” Kang Jin-Ho asked while scanning the others in the room.

That was when Wiggins quietly coughed to clear his throat and draw attention to himself. His expression was also noticeably different from a moment ago, too. It could only mean the real report from him was about to begin.

Kang Jin-Ho narrowed his eyes. “I see. Then, shall we begin?”

“Thank you, my lord.” Wiggins briefly sucked in a quick but deep breath. “The movements of the Japanese have become concerning.”

The directors sat upright in their seats, then leaned slightly closer. The tension in the room heightened from the mention of the Japanese.

“We need more detail, Wiggins.”

“Of course. The Round Table has provided us with new intel. Apparently, their agents dispatched in Japan have all reported that the... atmosphere within Japan has become very concerning. And the leaders of various Japanese gumis have been seen heading toward Kyoto recently.”

“Hmm...?” Kang Jin-Ho leaned back, the light in his eyes becoming withdrawn. “...And what are we expecting them to do?”

“My lord, I think they are preparing for a full-scale open war.”

A full-scale war! That analysis was far too weighty to be brushed aside with a casual shoulder shrug.

Bang Jin-Hun immediately raised his voice in anger. “A full-on war?! Aren’t you reaching a bit here, Sir Wiggins?”

“No. The odds are quite high, unfortunately.”

“It hasn’t been all that long since those f*ckers got crushed by us, right? But they are getting ready for an all-out war? Do they even have enough in the tank to do that?”

“You’re mistaken,” Wiggins shook his head. “Indeed, their last expedition must’ve been an unexpected failure in their view. However, if you think we’ve landed a crippling blow to the Japanese, think again. Most of the warriors participating in that battle were young elites, after all. I’m sure you already know that, unlike us at the Martial Assembly, the main combat force of the Japanese is their older generation.”

“Mm...!” Bang Jin-Hun nodded while grimacing.

The Martial Assembly... No, South Korea's situation in general was rather unique within the martial world.

The usual arrangement with martial societies found in other nations was that the true power always belonged to the older generations. One only had to take a look at the Round Table to know this was true; the representative Knight of each country, as well as the Master, all happened to be older people with heads full of gray hair.

This story also applied to Japan and the factions led by the Three Kings.

Losing the younger generation of warriors meant losing the future, but this loss wouldn’t affect the present too much.

Wiggins continued to explain. “And losing their youngsters is bound to make them impatient, too. The Martial Assembly is diligently and steadily catching up to the Japanese even as we speak. They know this, so they need to grow as well... But!”

“...But they lost their seeds for future growth.”

“Indeed! And it’ll only get more disadvantageous for them in the future. When stuck in a situation like that, the Japanese realistically only have two choices. Either they also cut off our potential for future growth, or... Destroy us when they are still ahead in the race.”

“Even so... This is too extreme. Aren't those bastards having it good over on that side? Growing fat from the riches and stuff? They can't be crazy and insecure enough to wage a full-on war with us just because of the possibility of falling behind! Maybe if it was a century ago, sure, but now?”

Wiggins slowly nodded. “Yes, you do have a point.”

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He and Bang Jin-Hun had experiences of serving in important positions in their organizations. Of course, they still were, even now. But there was a subtle difference between then and now.

Both men knew all too well how difficult it was for the people to break free from the stability offered by a stagnant pool of water.

People had been saying for years that the Round Table must go through a reform to keep up with the times. However, absolutely nothing happened. Even though Lee Jung-Geol hindered the Assembly's progress and acted like an unchecked tyrant, no one tried to drag him down from his throne.

The older generation was bound to hanker for stability. And they were bound to get pushed out into irrelevance by the younger generation. And that was how society progressed.

But that story didn’t apply in the martial world as the older generation was physically more powerful than their younger counterparts. More power obviously meant more authority, so the progress that came with the changing of generations did not happen frequently in martial societies.

That was the situation, so to think the old folks wielding power and authority would willingly go on a wild adventure to prepare for the future after their passing?

That sounded like an unfunny irony.

Wiggins frowned while rubbing his chin. “In my honest opinion, someone must be instigating the Japanese.”

Bang Jin-Hun frowned. “Who would do that...?”

“Well, it’s easy enough to guess, wouldn’t you say?”

Rather than Bang Jin-Hun, Lee Hyeon-Su answered Wiggins first. “It’s Cai Kechang.”

“Yes. Even if we don’t have proof,” Wiggins shrugged casually. “I can’t think of anyone else.”

Lee Hyeon-Su’s expression grew somber. If Cai Kechang was really involved here, then... He must not view this situation lightly.

‘That son of a b*tch...!’

Despite the ceasefire agreement, that bastard was still resorting to all sorts of underhanded tricks. Of course, Lee Hyeon-Su had no right to criticize since he was doing the same thing, but... Emotionally at least, he wanted to hurl as many insults as humanly possible!

“Then...” Kang Jin-Ho raised his voice to shift the atmosphere into another level. “Let's say Cai Kechang is behind this development. What will the Japanese do next?”

“They will definitely invade us, sir,” said Lee Hyeon-Su without hesitation. “Japan and Korea waging a war of attrition to exhaust each other would be the best outcome for the Crimson King’s faction. Someone like Cai Kechang should be aiming for that. No, not should, but definitely.”

Bang Jin-Hun scowled deeply. “The Japs aren’t idiots, so they should know what’s what already. Even then, are you saying they will still go along with this plot?”

“Yes, Director Bang. It's Cai Kechang we're talking about here, after all,” Lee Hyeon-Su replied with a grimace of his own. “Some of us have developed this tendency to underestimate that man after the Assembly managed to slip through his schemes several times, but I assure you, he is a terrifying bastard.

“We only managed to emerge relatively unscathed from his schemes because of our Assembly Master, the one variable they couldn’t stop until now. If the Assembly Master wasn’t with us, or someone else with a similar level of strength was leading us during those times... None of us in the Assembly would be alive by now.”

Bang Jin-Hun's frown deepened. He remembered Lee Hyeon-Su sucker-punching and countering Cai Kechang several times like a champ. So, to hear Lee Hyeon-Su speak so highly of Cai Kechang...

Didn't that mean Bang Jin-Hun should also acknowledge that sly second-in-command of the Crimson King's faction?

“The war will happen. Without a doubt,” said Wiggins. “In that case, we must discuss our own countermeasure...”

Wiggins couldn't finish his sentence when he noticed Kang Jin-Ho closing his eyes and leaning back against his couch. However, it wasn't just him but everyone else in the room clamping their mouth shut.

After all, they knew that Kang Jin-Ho ultimately had the final say in the Martial Assembly's plans and countermeasures. Their role was to offer advice and help Kang Jin-Ho make his decisions. Forcing or coaxing him to do things they wanted was not a part of their job description.

Kang Jin-Ho remained silent for a long time before slowly opening his eyes. He slipped his hand inside his pocket and pulled out a packet of cigarettes. After mouthing a fresh cigarette, he lit it up with a lighter.

Click...

Grayish smoke soon wafted in the air.

“So, it's certain...” Kang Jin-Ho muttered, a smirk slowly spreading on his face. “You know, I've been thinking about what pretext I should use to invade Japan. I guess I owe the Japanese my thanks for solving my problem.”

Wiggins could only smile wryly just then.

Didn’t he sweat a bucket while trying to dissuade Kang Jin-Ho from hopping on a plane, heading to Japan, and personally cutting off the head of the Iemoto of Shinichi-kai? All this time, he was under the impression that Kang Jin-Ho had moved on, but it seemed that hadn’t been the case at all.

As a matter of fact, Kang Jin-Ho had been biding his time!

‘In other words, you will never forget your grudges?’

Then again, that was how Kang Jin-Ho operated. No big surprises there.

“Since they are preparing for an all-out war, the Japanese must believe they can win,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

“That must be so,” Wiggins nodded.

“However... Do you think that way, too?”

“...”

Kang Jin-Ho scanned everyone’s faces before baring his fangs in a smirk. “Answer me. You should know your current strength better than anyone, after all. What do you think of our odds?”

The replies came swiftly. Vator smirked derisively while looking into the distance. “The Japs stupidly not figuring out the enemy's combat strength is a historical fact, isn't it? They let their blood rush to their heads and repeatedly invade, only to get beaten to a pulp and write a groveling declaration of surrender in the end!”

Bang Jin-Hun also smirked. “There won’t be a declaration of surrender this time, though. Because we’ll rip their heads off. All of them.”

Wiggins casually shrugged. “We've all made ample preparations for a day like this, my lord. Also, don't forget that the Round Table will support us during this war. That should make things easier.”

Chang Min replied flatly as if to say he didn't feel anything particular about this topic. “Tell us who the enemies are, and the cult will risk everything to annihilate them, my liege. That is all. We shall unhesitantly become your swords and spears.”

“Very good,” Kang Jin-Ho grinned fiercely.

Maybe the Japanese did have a shot at victory. Unfortunately, they had overlooked something crucial.

‘I’m sure the Japanese know we’re getting stronger.’

However, they didn’t realize the rate of improvement had been rapidly accelerating, too!

“Lee Hyeon-Su,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

“Yes, sir.”

“What’s your opinion?”

“Well...” Lee Hyeon-Su scratched his head. “The war is unavoidable. However, if it's possible, I’d like it to be a defensive war instead. We should try to fight them in South Korea.”

“And why is that?”

Everyone, including Kang Jin-Ho, stared at Lee Hyeon-Su, clearly intrigued. Were they about to hear Lee Hyeon-Su's masterful solution for...?

“By doing so, we will be able to devour those bastards’ business interests in Japan without damaging them. Do that, and we won’t have to worry about our finances for the next two decades, at least!”

“...” Kang Jin-Ho dazedly stared at Lee Hyeon-Su before muttering, “Are you a genius?”

If not, maybe just another money-grubber?